Central Government has received 260 applications from foreign scientists for Visiting Advanced Joint Research (VAJRA) Faculty scheme. Out of these 260 applications, 70 will be shortlisted for this year.

About Visiting Advanced Joint Research (VAJRA) Faculty scheme:

VAJRA Faculty scheme is a pilot project by the Department of Science and Technology (Under Union Ministry of Science and Technology) which was launched in May 2017.

The department intends to select 1,000 scientists every year under this scheme.

Public funded academic institutions and national laboratories in India are eligible to host VAJRA faculties and can appoint them as visiting faculty. At these institutions/laboratories, the selected scientists will be involved in co-guiding and mentoring students as well as in developing collaborative programmes.

Interacting with these scientists will help Indian doctorate students to collaborate with best scientific minds and gain international exposure in their area of research.

Scientists selected under this scheme will be paid US $15,000 in the first month of residency and US $10,000 per month from the next month.

They will work in India for a minimum of a month and a maximum of three months.

Shortlisting the names for this year’s VAJRA Faculty Scheme:

Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary of Department of Science and Technology, has stated that screening of 260 applicants will start in October 2017 and the shortlisted scientists will begin work by December 2017.

Before shortlisting, Department of Science and Technology will ascertain whether the experience of scientists who have applied, matches with the focus areas in which the department wants them to work.

This year, department will look for scientists who have experience in the fields of renewable energy, water and other technology. These are the areas in which Indian does not have expert-level talent pool.